There's another layer as well, beyond just Mycroft's inherent unreliability because he's writing his account. Ada Palmer is heavily inspired by Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, so the narration itself has an agenda while telling a story that must be read almost like a historical text from the past, full of biases, assumptions and even lies that paint an incomplete picture. You won't ever feel lost reading the book, but there's a lot of depth to it that can only be glimpsed after familiarity with the text and hindsight. Personally, I feel like the worldbuilding is insanely incredible. Not in a sprawling "Lord of the Rings" way, but far more complex and intricate. Ada Palmer created a whole society entirely different from our own AND thought of the problems and issues it might have, on top of layers of culture and customs that reveal itself as you read. Top notch stuff.
@@readbykyle3082Ridiculously cool describes it well. And even though me loving it would probably be another reason for you to 1 star it, that’d be like 1 starring The Wire. Sacrilege.
@@readbykyle3082 they have full cast audiobooks for the the first two (next two on the way) if you're into that sort of thing. I'd be curious how it goes for you whichever audio you choose 👀
Super helpful series review, and I especially appreciate the heads-up about the audio vs physical experience!! I love the sound of this wild frame narrative, that alone makes me want to read it. Plus the fact that you won't shut up about it of course, because in Jake we trust!!
My current rating for the series after finishing the first three books is 10/10, I am glad to hear that in your opinion the last book is great. You mentioned that in your opinion The Will To Battle is a set up book for Perhaps The Stars, I think the same about Too Like The Lightning and Seven Surrenders, I consider them part one and two of one book and would recommend everyone to read the two back to back.
One of the coolest chapters I’ve ever read in my life is the bit written in code in PTS. Just wanted to say that. And the series does things with narration that I’ve only seen elsewhere with Gene Wolfe where I’m constantly considering each line with the narrator in mind. It’s amazing.
@@Severian1 that chapter is so genius. Spoilers PTS Not quite as unique, but my favorite chapter is the one were 9A is in the hospital after being hit with a gorgon, and you think they are slowly losing their mind and going paranoid. Sniper made it through. Incredible
“Mycroft can be a bit much.” 😆 You can say that again. Read these, and they immediately went right up slightly under Hyperion on my scifi list. Oh, and my UK editions have book 4 at about twice the size of the others.
@@jakebishop7822 yeah man. They’re just 100% consistent - the covers are all lovely and go together, and the typesetting is the same, so a twice as long book looks twice as long, as it should.
That's pretty much the difference between Star Wars (Sun Eater) and Dune (Terra Ignota). So it's up to the reader how much philosophy they want to engage in.
Too Like the Lightning was a 7/10 for me. I thought it was funny how incredibly detailed the world was and yet most of the politics was driven by what was essentially a BuzzFeed list. Also, there were two things that I found the most interesting and only around 10% of the book focused on those two things. Everything else was comparatively less engaging to me.
@@Belemrys So I like Kay a little more than Terra Ignota, but if all I get to know about your taste is that you are a Gene Wolfe fan, and you have had Terra Ignota on your radar for a long time. So I will pick Terra Ignota
@@Belemrys they are the penguin Canada editions. They are typically available on Indigo, but I don't believe they are readily available outside of Canada
Murum percussi et primum librum deprimo "Terra Ignota" legere conatus sum. Postea denuo eam sustuli et nunc una seriei dilectionis meae libri semper est. Qui enim per arduum ascensum sentiunt, ad mundi-aedificationem capiunt, per orationes in Pantheon libro primo perlegendas commendo et inde ad inceptionem recurrentes perlegimus capita. Quae primum caput tuum transierunt, paginas illas legeris, plus sensus faciet. (Sorry, I relied on a MASON-bot for translation, so this probably doesn't quite get at what I meant to say)
I tried to translate this online and this is what I got I hit the wall and tried to read the first book "The Unknown Land". I later picked it up again and it is now one of my favorite book series ever. For those who, through the steep ascent, take to world-building, I recommend reading through the prayers in the first book of the Pantheon, and from there we read the chapters going back to the beginning. The first things that went through your head when you read those pages will make more sense. How did it do in the game of translation telephone
I rose full of strength this morning to watch this video
that's good because you need full strength to get through my 30 minute videos
Whoa what a wild frame narrative - already intrigued!
There's another layer as well, beyond just Mycroft's inherent unreliability because he's writing his account. Ada Palmer is heavily inspired by Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, so the narration itself has an agenda while telling a story that must be read almost like a historical text from the past, full of biases, assumptions and even lies that paint an incomplete picture.
You won't ever feel lost reading the book, but there's a lot of depth to it that can only be glimpsed after familiarity with the text and hindsight.
Personally, I feel like the worldbuilding is insanely incredible. Not in a sprawling "Lord of the Rings" way, but far more complex and intricate. Ada Palmer created a whole society entirely different from our own AND thought of the problems and issues it might have, on top of layers of culture and customs that reveal itself as you read. Top notch stuff.
No idea what you will think about this, but it would certainly be interesting to see.
Awesome stuff, Jake! Thanks for taking the time to break down this complex series, and for really selling it for me 😁
@@ZOMGfantasy thanks for listening and considering
Definitely buying this. I am sold, good sir.
Mission accomplished
I didn't know a damn thing about this series before this video. Can't wait to give it one star
@@readbykyle3082 really seeing up an uptick of trolls in my comment section.
Very sad.
I hope my video was informative
@@jakebishop7822 jokes aside I actually literally didn't know anything about the series and it sounds ridiculously cool
@@readbykyle3082Ridiculously cool describes it well. And even though me loving it would probably be another reason for you to 1 star it, that’d be like 1 starring The Wire. Sacrilege.
@@readbykyle3082 they have full cast audiobooks for the the first two (next two on the way) if you're into that sort of thing. I'd be curious how it goes for you whichever audio you choose 👀
Super helpful series review, and I especially appreciate the heads-up about the audio vs physical experience!! I love the sound of this wild frame narrative, that alone makes me want to read it. Plus the fact that you won't shut up about it of course, because in Jake we trust!!
@@esmayrosalyne i hope you enjoy it.
I don't know if in Jake we trust is a good moto
@@jakebishop7822 I dare say it is :)))
Well, I trust your taste so I'll check it out.
Pretty confident you will like it
I guess I need to read this series now to see if our sci-fi tastes align as much as our fantasy tastes!
*adds to cart*
Love to see it
My current rating for the series after finishing the first three books is 10/10, I am glad to hear that in your opinion the last book is great. You mentioned that in your opinion The Will To Battle is a set up book for Perhaps The Stars, I think the same about Too Like The Lightning and Seven Surrenders, I consider them part one and two of one book and would recommend everyone to read the two back to back.
ya, it definitely reads like 2 complete narratives with the first half of both having more setup.
Perhaps The Stars is so good, ready yourself
One of the coolest chapters I’ve ever read in my life is the bit written in code in PTS. Just wanted to say that.
And the series does things with narration that I’ve only seen elsewhere with Gene Wolfe where I’m constantly considering each line with the narrator in mind. It’s amazing.
@@Severian1 that chapter is so genius.
Spoilers PTS
Not quite as unique, but my favorite chapter is the one were 9A is in the hospital after being hit with a gorgon, and you think they are slowly losing their mind and going paranoid.
Sniper made it through.
Incredible
Excellent!
yes
Agree on Terra Ignota not actually being confusing. If you're watching Jake's channel, you'll be fine.
@@darmokandjalad7786 look at this guys trust in my viewers
“Mycroft can be a bit much.” 😆 You can say that again. Read these, and they immediately went right up slightly under Hyperion on my scifi list. Oh, and my UK editions have book 4 at about twice the size of the others.
@@MattonBooks that is a huge win from UK publishers. People deserve to know what they are getting into
@@jakebishop7822 yeah man. They’re just 100% consistent - the covers are all lovely and go together, and the typesetting is the same, so a twice as long book looks twice as long, as it should.
Mycroft is such a drama queen.
very hype
The hype must flow
so. the million dollar question. Suneater or Terra Ignota.
That's pretty much the difference between Star Wars (Sun Eater) and Dune (Terra Ignota). So it's up to the reader how much philosophy they want to engage in.
I choose to not answer
Too Like the Lightning was a 7/10 for me. I thought it was funny how incredibly detailed the world was and yet most of the politics was driven by what was essentially a BuzzFeed list. Also, there were two things that I found the most interesting and only around 10% of the book focused on those two things. Everything else was comparatively less engaging to me.
@@WordsinTime interesting. Very curious to see what you think of Seven Surrenders eventually when you get to it
As a Gene Wolfe love, Ada has been on my TBR toooo long!
It deserves to get to the top of the TBR!
@@jakebishop7822 my first guy gavriel kay or this...or more gene wolfe (I need to reread botns like gene mandated!)
@@Belemrys So I like Kay a little more than Terra Ignota, but if all I get to know about your taste is that you are a Gene Wolfe fan, and you have had Terra Ignota on your radar for a long time.
So I will pick Terra Ignota
@@jakebishop7822 I have spent all day trying to find a way to buy GGK rainbow spine set you have on display...can't find the name of the set or ISBNs!
@@Belemrys they are the penguin Canada editions. They are typically available on Indigo, but I don't believe they are readily available outside of Canada
Murum percussi et primum librum deprimo "Terra Ignota" legere conatus sum. Postea denuo eam sustuli et nunc una seriei dilectionis meae libri semper est. Qui enim per arduum ascensum sentiunt, ad mundi-aedificationem capiunt, per orationes in Pantheon libro primo perlegendas commendo et inde ad inceptionem recurrentes perlegimus capita. Quae primum caput tuum transierunt, paginas illas legeris, plus sensus faciet.
(Sorry, I relied on a MASON-bot for translation, so this probably doesn't quite get at what I meant to say)
@@CreatorInMicro uh, let me go ask 9a to translate this
I tried to translate this online and this is what I got
I hit the wall and tried to read the first book "The Unknown Land". I later picked it up again and it is now one of my favorite book series ever. For those who, through the steep ascent, take to world-building, I recommend reading through the prayers in the first book of the Pantheon, and from there we read the chapters going back to the beginning. The first things that went through your head when you read those pages will make more sense.
How did it do in the game of translation telephone
terra
Ignora 😥